Injuries have decimated the Falcons’ offensive line in 2014, which has resulted in an inconsistent offense.

Kyle Miller

News

Tight end Kyle Miller, whose NFL regular season experience consists of one game with Indianapolis in 2012, has been cut by the Dolphins. He had been signed by Miami after the 2013 season.

Dwight Lowery

News

Falcons defensive backs Dwight Lowery (knee) and Kemal Ishmael (hamstring) each left Sunday's regular season finale against Carolina due to injuries, per the team's official website. Both players were deemed questionable to return to the game.

Jonathan Massaquoi is the latest to feel the change in direction of the Falcons' new coaching staff.

On Friday, the Falcons announced that the defensive end has been waived. Under previous coach Mike Smith, Massaquoi was a fifth-round selection out of Troy in the 2012 NFL draft. Smith was fired this offseason with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn hired as his replacement.

Looking to make up for some lost big-play potential, the Falcons gave return man Devin Hester more of a look on offense with star wide receiver Julio Jones sidelined by a hip injury Week 15 against Pittsburgh, and he delivered five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown, scoring on a 17-yard strike from quarterback Matt Ryan in the second quarter. He nearly had a second touchdown, too, just missing on a 4-yard toss in the third quarter. Of course, that play would have been negated by an offensive pass interference penalty anyway.

That was Hester's only miss on the day, but then, that's kind of the problem. Six target does not a reliable Fantasy option make, especially when the Falcons had two other players, Harry Douglas and Roddy White, with double-digit targets.

Even if Jones doesn't return Week 16 at New Orleans, you can't count on Hester being as efficient with the targets he gets, and considering Jones was a game-time decision for Week 15, there's a good chance Hester goes back to getting just two or three. Outside of deeper leagues, he's not deserving of a waiver claim.

Justin Blalock

News

The Falcons released offensive guardJustin Blalock, the team announced Friday. Blalock has played with Atlanta for the entirety of his eight-year career in the league, missing just three games in total.

The move saves the Falcons $3.79 million against the cap, according to ESPN. He had two years remaining on his deal.

Antone Smith

News

The Falcons placed running back Antone Smith on IR with a broken leg, the team announced. Smith scored five touchdowns, three receiving, in 10 games.

"Zero plans to retire at this moment," Umenyiora said. "I feel like I can still play, No. 1. The way things ended last year, I'm just not going to end my career like that. That's not going to happen."

The 2015 season will be Umenyiora's 12th season in the NFL and he said he can still contribute if he lands with the right team.

"I feel like when put in the right situation and given the opportunity to play, I would still be able to help somebody. I want to end the way it's supposed to end," he said.

Umenyiora added he expects to be back with the Falcons in 2015 and wants to play at least one more year.

"I think I did the right things when I was there, especially last year," he said. "I did and said all the right things and I'm in great shape. Whether or not they decide to re-sign me, that's another story. But do I expect them to look into it? I would think so."

Ricky Heimuli

News

The Jaguars have pared down their roster to 53 on Saturday by cutting 20 players.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Southward was drafted early in the third round in 2014 and racked up 23 tackles, one sack and one interception while playing 257 snaps across 13 games. His role in the defense of incoming head coach Dan Quinn has yet to be determined.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Douglas has been with the Falcons since 2008, and had a year remaining in his deal. He racked up 258 receptions, 3,130 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season, he turned 75 targets into 51 catches for 556 yards and two scores. This comes a day after the team released veteran running back Steven Jackson, as new coach Dan Quinn prepares for roster shakeup this offseason.

Nate Stupar

News

The Falcons listed seven players on their final injury report for Week 7 at Baltimore, and only wide receiver Harry Douglas was ruled out for the contest. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee), guard Justin Blalock (back), wide receiver Devin Hester (hamstring), wide receiver Julio Jones (ankle), linebacker Prince Shembo (knee) and linebacker Nate Stupar (knee) were all labeled probable for Sunday's game after practicing in full on Friday.

Zeke Motta

News

The Falcons put safety Zeke Motta on the reserve/PUP list to start the season, and he's not expected to play at all this year, reports ESPN.com. Motta is dealing with a serious neck issue.

Injury

Neck - PUP. Questionable for season

Jerome Smith

News

The Falcons promoted running back Jerome Smith to the active roster and waived linebacker James Anderson, reports the National Football Post. Smith is a 6-foot, 226-pounder out of Syracuse who could be active Sunday if running back Steven Jackson (quad) can't play against the Panthers.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Roddy White

News

Although Falcons wide receiver Roddy White turned 33 years old during the 2014 season, he told 680 The Fan on Wednesday he still feels his playing career is not close to being over, per the team's official website.

"Actually, I feel pretty good. Throughout the end of the season, I felt like my legs were under me," White said. "I wish I hadn't missed two games. That was my goal this year, to get through the year completely healthy, but that didn't happen for me. I feel I could play two or three more years, if I could just stay healthy through the whole course of a season and not miss any games."

White capped his 10th season in the NFL with 80 catches for 921 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

"I feel like I'm playing at a really good level," White said. "Any time you can go out there and catch 80 passes in the NFL, you're doing pretty good. I feel like I can play another two or three years and be successful."

All four players were questionable coming into the game. They were all able to get through limited practice Friday.

Drew Davis

News

The Falcons are all but perfectly healthy for their Sunday game against visiting Cleveland. Cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) and offensive tackle Jonathan Scott (hamstring) are out, but the other eight players on their injury report are probable.

The Falcons are all but perfectly healthy for their Sunday game against visiting Cleveland. Cornerback Robert Alford (wrist) and offensive tackle Jonathan Scott (hamstring) are out, but the other eight players on their injury report are probable.

Falcons wide receiver Eric Weems came down with his second touchdown of the season in his team's 30-14 victory over the Saints in Week 16. Weems hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan in the second quarter. It was his only catch of the afternoon.

Weems has 10 catches for 102 yards and two scores this season. He'll look to end the regular season on a high note against Carolina.

Minnesota also waived/injured safety Mistral Raymond, who suffered a concussion in the preseason opener.

Robert Alford

News

Falcons cornerback Robert Alford is expected to train with recently retired cornerback Ryan Clark in Louisiana this offseason, reports ESPN. The former Steelers corner announced his retirement on Wednesday and is expected to serve as an analyst on ESPN. Alford knows Clark through his brother, former Saints corner Fred Booker, who was Clark's college roommate at LSU.

"All the advice and things I do have to offer him he's going to get, from helping him watch film to helping him understand where he was beat on certain plays, to how he can improve himself, physically," Clark said. "But also the mental approach to the game. So I'm excited about getting an opportunity to work with him. Anytime you get a chance to work with a true friend, somebody you've known a long time, it's exciting."

Injury

Wrist - IR. Out for season

Levine Toilolo

News

Featured back Steven Jackson was the most procuctive on a short list of minor contributors for the Falcons against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Jackson finished with just 46 yards on 11 carries and added one catch for 11 yards.

Also chipping in was running back Devonta Freeman, who managed 21 yards on four attempts and nine yards on one reception. Fellow back Jacquizz Rodgers added three yards on two carries and 12 yards on one catch while tight end Levine Toilolo caught a pass for four yards.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Prince Shembo

News

New Falcons coach Dan Quinn met with the media at the Indianapolis scouting combine on Thursday and discussed his plans for the team's defensive players.

The biggest news was that the team plans to move Prince Shembo back to outside linebacker. Shembo was drafted as an outside linebacker, but injuries on the defense required him to move inside.

Shembo had 59 tackles for the Falcons in his rookie season, but he'll likely play more of a role in the pass rush from the outside. He had nine sacks as a senior at Notre Dame while playing OLB.

Quinn also plans to use Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai on the inside. They split time between defensive tackle and end last season, but Quinn was impressed with their size at the tackle spots. Soliai had 29 tackles and a sack last season. Jackson had 22 tackles.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Bradford was a sixth-round pick by the Buccaneers in the 2011 draft. Raheem Morris, the Bucs' coach at the time, is now on Quinn's staff with the Falcons.

Bradford has been on the Giants, Browns and Jaguars, as well as several stints on the Seahawks' practice squad and active roster. The Seahawks converted Bradford from running back to linebacker in 2011.

Desmond Trufant

News

Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant suffered a hand injury during Monday’s game against the Packers.

Jackson entered this week as questionable after suffering a quadriceps injury against New Orleans in Week 16. Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Devonta Freeman will share the load. Jackson could return to action in the postseason, if Atlanta defeat Carolina on Sunday.

Ronnie Wingo

News

The Falcons have signed running back Ronnie Wingo to its offseason roster. He had been cut by the Bills before the season, then landed on the Atlanta practice squad.

Joplo Bartu

News

Falcons linebacker Joplu Bartu, who had 10 tackles in the season opener last week, recorded another nine, including eight solo, Week 2 at Cincinnati.

Bartu now has more tackles through two games than he had during any two-game stretch as a rookie last season.

Sam Baker

News

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said left tackle Sam Baker, who missed the entire 2014 season with a torn patella tendon, is recovering well, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"Sam is healing up well,” Dimitroff said. “He’s a guy that’s focused. He’s been in there all the time … He’s really focused with trying to get back on track.”

Jake Matthews, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 draft, took over at left tackle after Baker suffered the injury in a preseason game. It's unclear whether Baker can reclaim his job once fully healthy.

"It will be interesting to see how both players fit in the new zone-blocking scheme that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan plans to implement," the paper said.

Ra'Shede Hageman

News

Falcons rookie defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman suffered only a bone bruise in his wrist when he got into a scuffle with center Joe Crawley, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Earlier reports suggested Hageman had a hairline fracture.

Coach Mike Smith said Hageman will practice Monday.

Marquis Spruill

News

The Falcons announced Thursday linebacker Marquis Spruill will miss the entire 2014 season after suffering a torn ACL in practice Wednesday. Spruill was drafted in the fifth round (168th overall) out of Syracuse.

Injury

Knee - IR. Out for season

Bear Pascoe

News

Falcons tight end Bear Pascoe scored his second career touchdown and his first of the season Sunday against the Lions in London. Pascoe caught a 1-yard pass in the back of the end zone from Matt Ryan in the first quarter. It was his only touch of the afternoon in a 22-21 Week 8 defeat.

Kemal Ishmael

News

Falcons defensive backs Dwight Lowery (knee) and Kemal Ishmael (hamstring) each left Sunday's regular season finale against Carolina due to injuries, per the team's official website. Both players were deemed questionable to return to the game.

The Falcons are currently 3-point favorites against the Panthers in Week 17.

Kroy Biermann

News

Falcons coach Mike Smith told 92.9 The Game in Atlanta that pass rusher Kroy Biermann will practice but have limited snaps. He'll also take a day off of practice every two days. Biermann is coming off of an Achilles injury.

Paul Worrilow

News

Falcons linebacker Paul Worrilow, who had 15 tackles in the season opener last week, finished one short of that Week 2 at Cincinnati. He had 14 tackles, including six solo.

Worrilow averaged 12.2 tackles in his final nine games last season after beginning the year in a reserve role.

James Stone

News

With center Peter Konz (ACL) out for the season, the Falcons are going with undrafted rookie James Stone at center Sunday against the Lions. He'll be Atlanta's third center this season after the team put Joe Hawley and Konz on injured reserve.

Stone has played in three games. Quarterback Matt Ryan said Stone performed well after replacing Konz in the first quarter Week 7 at Baltimore. "I thought James Stone did a great job of coming in and filling in for Peter," Ryan told the team's website.

Rodgers took nine carries for a team-high 44 yards and turned seven targets into three receptions for 19 yards. Freeman carried the ball only six times for 13 yards. He also added two catches for 3 yards in a 34-3 defeat, eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.

"Jake is healing very well," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Thursday. "He knows his body. He takes really good care of how he approaches his body."

Matthews played through a high ankle sprain last season and suffered another injury in the season finale.

"He decided to go through the procedure that he went through because he thought it was the best way to get himself back healthy by the beginning of the year," Dimitroff said. "We have no concerns that way."

Matthews, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft, ranked 84th out of 84 tackles in 2014, per Pro Football Focus.

Devonta Freeman

News

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman could be getting more carries in the near future.

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff met with the media at the Indianapolis scouting combine on Thursday and said that Freeman could be a full-time back in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme.

Freeman had only 65 carries last season--just over four per game--for 248 yards and one touchdown.

"Mike Tice has done a really good with those guys this entire year," Ryan said. "We have guys who’ve had more experience playing."

Tyson Jackson

News

New Falcons coach Dan Quinn met with the media at the Indianapolis scouting combine on Thursday and discussed his plans for the team's defensive players.

The biggest news was that the team plans to move Prince Shembo back to outside linebacker. Shembo was drafted as an outside linebacker, but injuries on the defense required him to move inside.

Shembo had 59 tackles for the Falcons in his rookie season, but he'll likely play more of a role in the pass rush from the outside. He had nine sacks as a senior at Notre Dame while playing OLB.

Quinn also plans to use Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai on the inside. They split time between defensive tackle and end last season, but Quinn was impressed with their size at the tackle spots. Soliai had 29 tackles and a sack last season. Jackson had 22 tackles.

Though Sean Weatherspoon missed most of the past two seasons due to injuries, Falcons coach Dan Quinn is hopeful the franchise can re-sign the standout inside linebacker to a new contract before he hits the free agent market on March 10.

"With him, it's that toughness and the speed that he can play with so, yes, definitely someone that we're talking to," Quinn said via ESPN.com. "I know he's got that kind of attitude. And you know me, just from watching our style of defense, it's fast and physical. And that's what Sean is. So, we're certainly hoping that he can be a big part of it moving forward."

Weatherspoon played in only seven games during the 2013 season due to a Lisfranc sprain in his foot. He missed all of 2014 due to an Achilles tear.

Weatherspoon was the Falcons' first-round pick in the 2010 draft. He's totaled 290 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions during his career.

Injury

Achilles - IR. Out for season

Sean Baker

News

The Falcons have signed safety Sean Baker to the practice squad. Baker was waived from the active roster earlier in the week.

The Falcons announced Monday they placed center Peter Konz on injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered Week 7 against the Ravens. To take his spot on the roster, the Falcons signed offensive lineman Jonathan Scott.

The Falcons are currently 3-point favorites against the Panthers in Week 17.

Steven Jackson

News

Though he's without a team at the moment, running back Steven Jackson has no plans to retire.

The Falcons officially released Jackson Thursday night, with immediate questions emerging about his future. On his own website, though, Jackson posted a statement saying he isn't hanging up the cleats just yet.

"A lot has been written lately about my future," Jackson wrote. "There are questions about my age, and what I have left in the tank. Of that, I will simply say this. For the first nine years of my career, I was used like a battering ram, punishing opposing defense over four quarters of a game. Maybe you stopped me the first five times I got the ball, but by the 15th or 20th time I got it, late in a game -- let's just say you were really feeling me at that point.

"Make no mistake: I can still punish a defense. I still have a warrior's heart. There are 1,000-yard seasons left in these legs. I know what I am still capable of, and I have every intention of proving it."

Jackson also admitted his two seasons with the Falcons were a disappointment as the organization did not reach the postseason in either season. He combined for only 1,250 yards in 2013 and 2014 after posting eight consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards when he was with the Rams.

Injury

Quadriceps - Missed Week 17 vs. Carolina

Matt Ryan

News

New Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is ready to build a playbook for quarterback Matt Ryan. He posted his second-highest passing yards mark in 2014, throwing for 4,694 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

"Matt Ryan fits everybody's offense," Shanahan said. "He's done a little bit of everything: drop back, play action. He's not done a lot of movement, but he has the athletic ability to do it. I'm really looking forward to working with him."

He will also have a deep threat in Julio Jones, who posted a career best 1,593 receiving yards on 104 catches with six touchdowns.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitorff confirmed Thursday at the NFL combine that the team intends to keep Jones in a Falcons uniform 'for years to come.'

"There's no question that we've had discussions about Julio and obviously everyone else on our roster," Dimitroff said. "He's one of the guys that we feel is one of the best talents in the league."

Jones will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2015 season, but Dimitroff said the team needs to be careful with how they offer salaries.

"You take a quarterback, who's going to be very expensive and then take wide receiver and a couple of other positions and make sure that you are paying market value and also making sure that you have enough space on the team to do the right thing," Dimitroff said.

The Falcons signed punter Matt Bosher to a five-year contract extension and long snapper Josh Harris to a four-year extension, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Josh Harris

News

Steelers running backs Josh Harris and Ben Tate were able to find little running room in Saturday's 30-17 loss to Baltimore. Harris ran nine times for 25 yards while Tate had five carries for 19 yards.

As a team, Pittsburgh managed just 68 yards on 19 carries in relief of star running back Le'Veon Bell, who missed Saturday's game with a knee injury.

The Falcons announced they have locked up kicker Matt Bryant to a contract extension, per the team's official website. Bryant was due to become a unrestricted free agent on March 10 before signing a new deal. Last season, he converted 29 of 32 field goals, with an NFL-best seven kicks from 50-plus yards out. He will turn 40 in May.

Paul Soliai

News

New Falcons coach Dan Quinn met with the media at the Indianapolis scouting combine on Thursday and discussed his plans for the team's defensive players.

The biggest news was that the team plans to move Prince Shembo back to outside linebacker. Shembo was drafted as an outside linebacker, but injuries on the defense required him to move inside.

Shembo had 59 tackles for the Falcons in his rookie season, but he'll likely play more of a role in the pass rush from the outside. He had nine sacks as a senior at Notre Dame while playing OLB.

Quinn also plans to use Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai on the inside. They split time between defensive tackle and end last season, but Quinn was impressed with their size at the tackle spots. Soliai had 29 tackles and a sack last season. Jackson had 22 tackles.